Things I bought on Black Friday

I don’t shop on Black Friday the typical way. I don’t like to buy things just because they are on sale. But if the things I wanted to buy in the first place are on sale, nothing like it. For the rest of the year, unless it is something I need urgently, I’ll bookmark the item link in my “To Buy” group in the browser. Come Thanksgiving, I’ll see if that item is on sale, and most usually are, I buy them then. So what did I buy this year?

PS. No affiliate links embedded.

Darn Tough Vermont Socks - I’ve wanted to get these for a while, but couldn’t justify the cost, even though I’ve always heard great things about them.

Skechers Slip-ins: I needed casual footwear that I could put on quickly for quick trips, like to the mailbox, neighborhood walks, or to the grocery store, and that did not have laces. I got the GO WALK 8 - Pelayo (black) and Summits - Korlo (whiskey) PS. I used ChatGPT to find these by asking it to show me something similar to shoes I already owned and liked. I also threw in the cart replacement sandals for the summer.

Ugmonk Analog Premium Wood Card Holder - This was a splurge item and one that was worth waiting for Black Friday. I’m going to give this analog task list a whirl for my short-term to-dos. I’ll continue to use Apple Reminders for long-term recurring tasks.

True Classic Clothing - I feel ashamed to admit this, but I discovered this brand via Instagram ads and have actually liked the fit for my body type. The t-shirts, jogger pants, and other items are plain, come in solid colors, and, more importantly, fit me perfectly.

Philips Hue A19 LED Smart Light Bulb - We have a bunch of these in our home, and they work well for our lamps in the bedroom, TV room, porch, and the backyard. Eventually, one started going bad and was flickering, but not too crazily. Buying just one replacement was too expensive, so I waited till a 3-pack was on sale.

TheraGun Therabody Relief Handheld - Working out in your 40s is rough, especially if you haven’t had a regular habit of doing so. I used this once in the gym and wanted to get one for my personal use, but it could wait, so I did until Black Friday.

LIITON Mount Everest Heavy Crystal Whiskey Glasses - We enjoy our scotch once in a while, and we bought some nice whiskey glasses a while ago, but when we have company, we didn’t want to give them regular glasses, so these ones completed the set.

Apple AirTags - I’ve been meaning to get a few more of these for smaller items we would rather not lose, including for our dogs’ collars. I had my eye on the Twelve South AirFly Duo but ultimately didn’t buy it because I don’t fly enough.

HBO Max - We are not regular subscribers, but $3 per month for six months was too good to pass up. We’ll use it to catch up on shows and movies we have heard about. Even if we watch 3–4 movies, it will pay for itself.

I find Kottke’s gift guide to be eclectic enough to find something useful and unique. I also love The Atlantic’s Gift Guide for similar reasons.

Just the other day, I asked my son what he would buy if price were no object. He said, a top-of-the-line gaming PC. Well, I'm glad he's like us in that way that we don't have any luxury splurge items on our wishlist. My splurge item would be...the original Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman.